Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-18
lafING THEM
SOME FOOLISH ,IETTERS RECEIVED
By the Intsr-shli gpmmerce Commissioners
Ners Kicks.
THEY PLEAD RETER COMPETITION
To Escape the Long and shar Haul Clause
Of the Law.

WASHINGTON, u. C., April l6.-Quite
large percentage of the letters received by
the Interstate Commission are on irrele-
want subjects.
One man asks that the Pennsylvania au-
thorities he prevented from collecting tax
imposed on him for selling goods by sample
for Eastern manufacturers. Another claims
that unless he gets a lower railroad rate on
his refrigerators he won't he able TO make
profit
Mr.. II. c. Cummings appeared to-day on
behalf of the Louisville, New Orleans and
Texas and the Newport News and Missis-
sippi Railroad. He stated that both roads
had serious water competition; that he be-
lieved, under the Interstate law, the
road had right TO charge less tor a
longer than for shorter distance, because
dissimilar conditions existed and they
were so charging. If they were in error,
they wanted to be so instructed by the
Commission, and they would then apply
for exemptions from the action of the fourth
clause.
Counsel appeared before the Commission
and asked exemption from the fourth sec.
ton for the Wisconsin Central lines of
railroads.
4 printed petition has been received by
the Commission
FROM THE IOWA BARB STEEL WIRE CO.,
of MarShalltOwn, Iowa, stating that up to
the first of the present month that COM
pany has had IN equalized rate 'Of freight
charges upon its receits and shipments;
that is through rates from Chicago to the
Missouri river, being % cents, the COM
pany has paid Is cents for bringing its
raw material from Chicago to Mar
shalltOwn at 10 cents for transportation of
its finished product from MarshalltOwn TO
Missouri. Under this arrangement it has
built mp Il reasonably profitable business of
500, 600 year, has given employment to
a large number of mechanics and labOrerS
and contributed much TO local prosperity
by furnishing the home market for farm
ing products. The railroad company, fear
ing the penalties OF the law, and not hay
ing any decision of the Commission sane
tiOning this Cqualized rate, has now sus-
pended arrangement, aud has made rates
from Chicago TO MarshalltOwn and from
MarshalltOwn to places of consignment of
the cOmpany's goods which are enormously
higher than the rates from Chicago 10 such
places of consignment. AZ n result of this
action petitioner must either suffer great
FINANCIAL LOSS, OR SHUT DOWN
its factories and discharge its employees.
The margin il. business has for some years
been very close; the company is carrying a
large stock and the season of the greatest
consumption is at hand. The system of
making equalized rates has been customary
in the Northwest and the petitioners case
is represented aS similar Ia that of hun
dreds of other establishments. The peti
toner therefore asks that the system he
sanctioned or the operation Of the law De
suspended until such time ~ the subject
can he investigated
The Commission to day modified the
order heretofore granted on application Of
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company
80 rs 10 conform with the order made OH
the application of the Southern Railway
and Steamship Association, limiting its
operation to points south of the Ohio river
and to business to and from such points,
from and to points north Of the Ohio
river. A similar order was also granted
upon the petitions of other railroads south
of the Ohio and east Of the Mississippi,
tO-wit the Illinois Central, ST. Louis and
Cairo Short Line, the Tennessee and Ohio,
Norfolk and Western, Richmond, Freder-
| ickshurg and Potomac, New York, Phila-
delphia and Norfolk, Cape Fear and lad-
kin Valley, Louisville and New Orleans,
and Texas and Newport News, and MiSsis-
sippi Valley roads. No other cases were
acted upon.